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Augusta included in national child sex raid

By PETE YOST Associated Press

Jul 30 2013 12:01 am Jul 30 12:07 am

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, right, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washingotn, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. From left are, John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Hosko.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eleven people in Augusta have been arrested as part of a three-day law enforcement sweep in which authorities rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution and arrested 150 pimps and others, the FBI said on Monday. The victims, almost all girls, range in age from 13 to 17.

The sweep took place in 76 American cities. Nine people were arrested on prostitution-related charges in the Augusta area, and two more arrests were made there on exploitation charges. The suspects' identities have not been released.

The largest numbers of children rescued were in San Francisco, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver and New Orleans. The campaign, known as Operation Cross Country, was conducted under the FBI's Innocence Lost initiative.

“Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across the country,” Ron Hosko, assistant director of the bureau's criminal investigative division, told a press conference.

The FBI said the campaign has resulted in rescuing 2,700 children since 2003.

The investigations and convictions of 1,350 have led to life imprisonment for 10 pimps and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

For the past decade, the FBI has been attacking the problem in partnership with a nonprofit group, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

John Ryan, the head of the center, called the problem “an escalating threat against America's children.”

The Justice Department has estimated that nearly 450,000 children run away from home each year and that one-third of teens living on the street will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

Congress has introduced legislation that would require state law enforcement, foster care and child welfare programs to identify children lured into sex trafficking as victims of abuse and neglect eligible for the appropriate protections and services.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, left, and Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section look on during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, to discuss “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, left, and Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section look on during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, to discuss “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference about “Operation Cross Country” at FBI headquarters on Monday, July 29, 2013, in Washington. The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. At left is John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference about “Operation Cross Country” at FBI headquarters on Monday, July 29, 2013, in Washington. The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. At left is John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday about Operation Cross Country. The operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the U.S. and arrested 150 people in a series of raids.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday about Operation Cross Country. The operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the U.S. and arrested 150 people in a series of raids.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, right, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washingotn, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. From left are, John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Hosko.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, right, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washingotn, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. From left are, John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Hosko.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, left, and Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section look on during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, to discuss “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, left, and Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section look on during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, to discuss “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference about “Operation Cross Country” at FBI headquarters on Monday, July 29, 2013, in Washington. The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. At left is John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference about “Operation Cross Country” at FBI headquarters on Monday, July 29, 2013, in Washington. The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. At left is John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, right, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washingotn, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. From left are, John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Hosko.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, right, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washingotn, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the United States and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities. From left are, John Ryan, CEO of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Drew Oosterbaan, chief of the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Hosko.

Enlarge AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the US and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, speaks during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, July 29, 2013, about “Operation Cross Country.” The FBI says the operation rescued 105 children who were forced into prostitution in the US and arrested 150 people it described as pimps and others in a series of raids in 76 American cities.

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